Reopening of Ferry Street Bridge

Nearly $8 million Project Provides Enhanced Connection to Improvements on Niagara Street and historic Broderick Park; simultaneous sea wall signing between the City of Buffalo and USACE signifies continued improvements to this area

July 18, 2016 – At a ceremonial bridge lowering on Buffalo’s West Side, Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins, joined by State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader and Niagara District Councilman David Rivera, and LTC Adam Czekanski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District Commander, as well as community leaders, business owners, residents and others, celebrated today the official completion of the Ferry Street Bridge Rehabilitation project which has resulted in an improved connection between neighborhoods along Niagara Street to Broderick Park. Simultaneously, Mayor Brown also took part in a signing ceremony with the USACE to mark the start of the $505,000 Broderick Park Sea Wall Study.

“The Ferry Street Bridge is an important link to one of Buffalo’s crown jewels - Broderick Park - as well as to neighborhoods along Niagara Street,” said Mayor Brown. “This major infrastructure improvement project further strengthens the Niagara Street corridor, one of our great gateways from Canada. It also creates jobs and serves as a vital link to the Underground Railroad connection at historic Broderick Park. I thank my partners in government for being a part of this continued effort to give residents and visitors improved access to this unique cultural amenity and Buffalo’s waterfront.”

“While a great deal of public attention is focused on the area around Canalside, sites up and down the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers are experiencing a quiet renaissance thanks to millions of dollars in public investments,” said Congressman Higgins. “These efforts are enhancing areas along the water directly connected to local neighborhoods and encouraging new private sector investments from Ohio Street to Niagara Street.”

Assemblyman Sean Ryan said “The Ferry Street Bridge is an iconic and historic structure in the City of Buffalo, and I am thankful that the federal and state governments and the City of Buffalo have teamed together to preserve this important part of our history. The renovated bridge will provide critical access to the restored Broderick Park, another iconic part of Buffalo’s past, present, and future.”

Council Member Rivera said, "The Ferry Street Bridge serves as a vital landmark to a diverse number of constituencies and its return to public use comes at an important time in our season of outdoor events and festivities. I commend the Mayor and Congressman Higgins for their partnership on restoring this bridge to its full capabilities. Residents as well as visitors should make an effort to come visit Broderick Park before summer ends, see the new historical markers, and enjoy the glorious views from this important place here in Buffalo."

Originally built in 1913, the Ferry Street Bridge is a bascule bridge crossing the Black Rock Channel. The $7.92 million reconstruction project, which began two years ago, included $5.56 million in federal transportation funding, $1.31 million in funding from the City of Buffalo and $1.05 million from the State.

Today’s ceremonial bridge lowering also included a special signing ceremony between the City of Buffalo and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As the $4 million project to rehabilitate the LaSalle Seawall continues, Mayor Brown announced today a new $505,000 agreement with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to complete a similar sea wall study at Broderick Park.

"Protection of this section of seawall will ensure the continued operation of the wastewater treatment plant, its ability to maintain uninterrupted service, as well as safe and sanitary conditions for residents and the environment," said USACE Buffalo District Commander LTC Czekanski. "This project compliments the ongoing design work for the eventual repair of the LaSalle Park seawall."

The study continues a partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City of Buffalo to study approximately 4,500 feet of shoreline between the Niagara River and the Erie Canal that has been deteriorating due to continued wave action from the Niagara River. The Broderick Park section of the seawall is vital in protecting the city of Buffalo's wastewater treatment plant.

The Ferry Street Bridge project and new Sea Wall Study compliment a number of other improvement projects surrounding the bridge and along Niagara Street, including:

Broderick Park is nearing completion on a $2.4 million parks improvement project funded by the City and State, which includes the creation of a south lawn and parking area, a new shelter, railings, sidewalks, bike path, amphitheater and central overlook, as well as concession building improvements, a memorial garden, Underground Railroad Freedom Walk pathway, north parking area and additional landscape features.

A $1.5 million improvement project along Bird Island Pier was completed in 2013.